Diving Discoveries

Margaret Thatcher has forever associated the Falkland Islands with war. Quite a pity too, since there is so much for scuba divers to do there! While history might connect these lands with a brutish display of power and dominance, there exists a lighter side of the islands, especially if investigated from a scuba diver’s perspective

A Slue of Maritime Memories- The Billy Rock

The islands exist just 250 miles off the southeast coast of South America, making them geographically important since ships having to sail around Cape Horn constantly sail near the archipelago. The exact number of shipwrecks is unknown around the Islands but estimations reach numbers as high as 180. The rough waters and jutting rocks have made the route treacherous as well as a wreck diver’s paradise.

Billy Rock is perhaps one of the most impressive wreck sites in the Falklands since at least five ships wrecked here. It is a protected area which requires permission before diving since the wrecks are designated under the Permission of Military Remains Act of 1986. The rusted remnants of the ships appear to come to life since many different types of sea urchins, sea cucumbers, starfish as well as other echinodermata inhabit the area.

Falkland Islands AKA Penguin Islands

If diving about an eerie wreck is not your cup of tea, how about admiring some adorable penguins? When I say some, I mean over 1 MILLION penguins. That’s right, the Falklands Island’s penguin population is massive, outnumbering local inhabitants 350 to 1. That’s a whole lot of cuddly tuxedos. The islands also have the most diverse penguin population outside of Antarctica- Rockhoppers, Magellanic, Macaroni, King and Gentoo penguins frolic about the coasts.

Massive Underwater Forests

There is as much to see above water as there is below. Sprawling kelp forests hypnotically wave at scuba divers, enticing them to explore beautiful wildlife and unique vegetation. Kelp forests 30 metres tall are fortitudes for an array of little critters. Small fish, lots of crab, lobster krill, jellyfish, isopods and marine snails claim these fragile ecosystems as there home.

Why diving in the Falkland Islands is not well known.

Many divers don’t think twice about diving in this region because it is a bit of a pain to do so (however, it is definitely worth it). The Royal Air Force is the only airline which offers direct flights and allows for a very small amount of baggage, 27 kilos per person, and scuba equipment might way more than this so you’ll end up paying a pretty penny for the extra weight.

The archipelago rests on the continental shelf of the South American tectonic plate and suffers from a lack of depth. Some dive sites max out at 15 meters! The shallow sites expose divers to turbulent water conditions so after a few sites, you’ll be tired of trying to keep floating off to open sea by the constant strong undertow.

While these minor problems might scare off novice divers, professionals and experienced scuba goers definitely can make this often overlooked scuba diving destination become a reality.

Here’s a couple of charter companies that might be able to help:

South Atlantic Marine Services
Telephone: + (500) 21145

Beauchene Fishing Company Ltd.
Telephone: + (500) 22260

Photo of Penguins- ben tubby from FLICKR

Extreme Weather Phenomena

When the thermometer breaks 40 degrees Celsius here in Madrid, Spain, it’s time to grab a beer and mellow out in the shade, but temperatures are getting toasty in all parts of the world which worries the academic community and means trouble for humanity and threatens the existence of scuba diving altogether.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN organization that works with international agencies, has noted that the entire world is experiencing an unprecedented sequence of extreme weather events. 17 countries have broken maximum temperature records this year (Belarus, Ukraine, Cyprus, Finland, Qatar, Russia, Sudan, Niger, Saudi Arabia, Chad, Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan, Burma, Ascension Island, Solomon Islands and Colombia) and record heat waves and fires in Russia, monsoon flooding in Pakistan, torrential rains in China and the separation of a huge iceberg in Greenland attest to this year’s barrage of bizarre weather events.

The Russian Meteorology Department noted that such temperatures have not been seen in the past 1,000 years. The rampant forest fires have killed dozens of people, destroyed endless hectares of land and have affected the health and welfare of millions of people. Russia’s grain export has been reduced by 30 percent in order to makeup with the destruction of local grain crops. They broke their agreement with Egypt who now finds itself in hot water as the world price for grain continues to increase along with hunger in their country. Pakistan is completely flooded with water since they have reached 300 mm fallings in periods of 36 hours (according to the Pakistan Department of Meteorology). This figure is close to half of the rain Madrid receives in an entire year!  Near Greenland, a MODIS sensor from one of NASA’s Aqua satellites detected the separation of an iceberg 260 square miles large off of the glacier Petermann in northern Greenland. It is the biggest chunk of floating ice released as of yet from the glacier.

No more proof of Global Warming needed!

If this doesn’t persuade American right wing conservatives that global warming exists then nothing will, and if the government doesn’t get its act together to prevent these increases in temperature, we are going to have major problems. Unchecked global warming will worsen respiratory allergies for millions of people since ragweed is expected to thrive and become more irritating under increased carbon dioxide levels which in turn could cost many people a significant amount of cash. Allergies and asthma already cost developed countries tens of billions of dollars annually due to direct health costs and lost productivity. Winters will be shorter and milder, as is happening now in the northern United States. Winter has become milder and shorter 10 to 14 days on average in comparison with winters from 20 years ago. Droughts will intensify causing a ripple effect of suffering as wildfires are just waiting to happen in our ever-drying world.

What’s this mean for Scuba Divers?

Global warming is the culprit behind mass coral bleaching but now the exponential temperature increases are causing them to die much much faster and this latest dry spell is killing off more than just coral. On July 26, hot weather killed the entire fish population in a South Dakota Lake since they experienced wet weather the previous week which created low oxygen levels, instantly asphyxiating thousands of fish in the lake. The Game, Fish & Parks bureau estimate it will take two year to fully re-stock the lake with fish. Imagine if this were to happen on a grand scale… We have to do everything in our power to not let these events occur again.

What can we do?

You don’t have to fork over thousands of dollars to supposedly reduce your carbon footprint in order to help. Just use less of everything that causes the problems; less plastic, less products that use petroleum, etc. Only the consumers will be able to help minimize the affects of global warming. To help start you off, here’s a cool calculator that can help you create a water footprint and track your water usage.

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-footprint-calculator/

*Sniff, sniff* What’s that smell?

Mangrove swamps are very stinky; hydrogen sulphide released from decaying plants and other organic material make these forests reek of rotten eggs, yet this funky characteristic is a great indicator that these types of woodlands are very healthy and full of life, which brings me to today’s entry: mangrove swamp diving. The odds of you having to toss your wetsuit after scuba diving in this habitat is highly likely but this kind of diving is quite different to say the least, making for a perfect change of scenery for avid divers. Stinky Mangrove swamps come alive with all sorts of life as well as serve an absolutely crucial role in the environment.

Mangroves are important!

Mangroves are natural coastal barriers that do a barrage of activities to help maintain equilibrium in nature by protecting shorelines from hurricanes, prevent erosion, maintain water quality as well as clarity and filter out pollutants and toxins while trapping nutriments from sediments originating from land. Massive amounts of barnacles, sponges, shellfish and other filter feeders latch onto the bird’s nest of roots beneath the murky waters and suck up all the nutrients and sill.

Why dive in a Mangrove swamp?

If my excessive use of the word “stinky” hasn’t turned you off yet, maybe you’re interested in learning the perks of diving in

mangroves swamps. These delicate ecosystems are found at the mouths of rivers or estuaries where the water tends to be quite

shallow. Diving in shallow water will give you hours of bottom time, permitting scuba enthusiasts  to dive at their leisure. It’s best to dive at high tide; otherwise, you’ll end up with your face in the (stinky) mud and besides, this when mangroves have highest visibility. An intricate relay of roots spout about haphazardly all throughout the underwater environment attracting lots of life, but be warned that some locations require careful concentration to navigate. Last thing you want it to get snagged by a root underwater. Scuba photographers will have plenty to shoot here since sea fans, soft coral, archer fish, various species of turtles as well as crustaceans exist in bountiful amounts in these environments. The streaming light that breaks through holes in the roots also makes for remarkable shots, however it is recommend you take a small dive light with you in case the water is a bit to dark.

Before you go, remember…

Crocodiles really dig mangroves. Various divers have been attacked by these bigguns in swamps so please avoid them at all costs! Not to mention the large number of snakes and other venomous reptiles that frolick about in mangroves. It is highly recommend that you take a local guide along who is familiar with the location and can be the lookout in case you should accidentally swim into a bad area of a mangrove swamp.

Photo credit-

Above water shot: cocoabiscuit from FLICKR

Below water shot: Kate´s photo Diary from FLICKR

Croc: SteveMcN from FLICKR

Swarms and swarms of tourist flock to Yellowstone National Park with cameras at hand, hoping to snap shots of the iconic Old Faithful geyser, moose, bears and perhaps go for a swim in many of the natural springs or sputtering mud holes. Not many ever consider going scuba diving in the park. A plethora of dive options exist all throughout Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres. If you dive here, the water tends to be pretty frigid but lake and river bottoms are actually hot to the touch due to all the volcanic activity occurring merely ten meters away from you!

Hop into any of the following Yellowstone dive sites and you’ll avoid the heaps of tourists that cram the park and enjoy the often overlooked aquatic unknown. Yellowstone Lake is one of the most gorgeous aquatic features in the park and numerous geysers and hot springs exist in her deep waters. Divers wade into the lake and scour the bottom in search of sunken boats and heavy equipment. Macro divers especially enjoy this body of water since heaps of freshwater shrimp and plant life flourish here.

Divers that want to step it up a notch head over to Spire Field near Bridge Bay Marina and submerge themselves in jade coloured water in order to observe massive underwater towers almost eight meters high stretch for the sky and freshwater sponges glitter about the gurgling geyser cones. Another very popular diving site is the Firehole River. The river has toasty water, 15 degrees Celsius on average, since hot springs and geysers feed into its meandering streams as it makes its way to the Madison River. Divers here will find a couple of swimming holes roughly ten meters deep but be aware of the fast currents on the rivers, as they can toss and turn you every which way. Get to the bottom of either of these holes, sit back and trout work their fins like crazy as the make their way up stream. The constant bubble-saturated water lets divers creep up on fish without spooking them. Cutthroat, Brown and Rainbow trout are common sightings here and hide amongst the overhangs, spires and bowls all throughout the river.

Scuba diving in Yellowstone promises to be a unique experience, kind of like scuba diving in an underwater tornado full of trout, but please be wary of the fast moving waters, multiple spires and low visibility near the entry point.

The island province of Palawan, Philippines is sandwiched between the South China Sea and Malaysia and offers over 1,800 different isles and a wide array of different sub aquatic hobbies, especially for scuba divers. The great Jacques Cousteau described Palawan as the most beautiful place he had ever explored, probably due to the estimated 11,000 square kilometres of coral sprawled about the islands.

For those interested in looking for premier world class scuba diving, look no further. While many of the island chains here offer great diving opportunities, the Calamianes islands and the Tubbataha coral reef are definitely the highlights. The Calamianes include 160 islands located just north of Palawan. The islands Busuanga, Coron, Culion, Calauit and Linapacan located here are home to some spectacular underwater environments. Underwater limestone cliffs, submerged caves, thermal lakes and geysers are plentiful here. The coral reefs surround practically all the islands and the unlimited number of bays provide the perfect environment for flourishing underwater ecosystems brimming with all sorts of life. Over 535 coral species thrive in the Calamianes Islands thanks to the abundant sunlight, heaps of plankton and other nutrients which provide a constant food source. If they plethora of polyp colonies doesn’t impress you, the Calamianes island are home to the world famous “Wrecks of Coron.” Nine WWII Japanese ships sunk to the bottom after a bloody skirmish in 1944 and the wreck site is considered one of the best in the world.

The Tubbataha Reefs are not only a National Marine Park but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reason why is obvious: thousands of different types of beautiful marine species such as sharks, mantas, rays, turtles, barracuda, turtles and mackerels thrive here along with heaps of little critters such as nudibranches, crabs, coral, etc. These reefs can only be reached by liveabroad boats from the end of March till June only during ideal diving conditions. Many vertical walls undulate all throughout the reefs allowing divers to explore beautiful flora and fauna in a unique dive site environment. This dive site is beautiful but also dangerous since strong currents change directions commonly. The average depth here is around 30 meters but certain spots reach up to 60 meters in depth. Whitetip, blacktip, & grey reef sharks, large groupers, napoleon wrasse, trevallies and all sorts of small fish live here in abundance.

Undoubtedly, the Palawan Isles is one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world and this short preview doesn’t do it justice. If anyone has ever been, please feel free to contribute.

The massive rubbish patches swirling about in the ocean gyres are getting bigger and while oceanographers and nature enthusiasts urge people to cut down on plastic, the general public still doesn’t get the picture. Since saving the environment isn’t enough motivation for some people, let’s find out other reasons why John Q. Public should stop drinking bottled water.

Bottled water is healthier than tap, right?

No. If you believe this rubbish, congratulations, you are one of the millions that fall for smooth advertising every year. Images of beautiful rivers and glorious ice covered peaks are slapped on the labels of water bottles to make them more appealing… that’s it. The water is still just water and little to no empirical evidence suggests that bottled water is any cleaner or healthier for you than tap water.  Take bottled water in the States for example. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) theoretically regulates bottled water product. In reality, roughly 70% of bottled water never crosses state lines for sale, exempting them FDA regulation.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a toxin commonly used in plastic water bottles is also another reason why people should cut back since it has been linked to a slew of health problems, from ADHD and heart disease to diabetes. The chemical industry disagrees of course, stating the average dose of BPA is far too low to be toxic. I hate to imagine the damage this toxin inflicts on the ocean gyres since millions of small floating plastic particles release their chemicals into the deep blue.

The Value of Bottled Water

On average, most municipal water in the United States costs less than 1 cent per gallon yet vendors charge roughly a dollar or euro for a bottle. There is no need to do the math here to realize that if you cut back on bottled water, you will save lots of money. Besides, 90% of the cost of bottled water goes to bottling, packaging, shipping and marketing; bottled water is essentially filtered tap water bottled close to a seller’s distribution point and isn´t truly from the Alps of Switzerland.

The privatization of the Earth’s water supply

Bottle water is more profitable than gasoline and since we live in a world dominated by capitalism that upholds competition and free trade, water has been deemed the “Blue Gold” of the 21^st century. Multinational corporations are purchasing groundwater and distribution rights wherever they can, especially in developing countries. The bottle water industry is a major reason why a basic human right (water) has turned into a commodity.

Reports of the large plastic soup patches surfaced around the late 90´s and by now some people have made grand efforts to minimize their dependency on bottled water. Take the city of Bundanoon for example, located in New South Whales, Australia. This town banned the commercial sail of bottled water which was triggered by concerns about the carbon footprint associated with bottling water and transporting it.

While this might seem a bit of a drastic change for some, there are some simple measures one can take. Stainless steel thermoses make great alternatives to bottle waters or if your local water tastes funny invest in a cheap carbon filter. Plastic bottled water is something the entire world has come accustomed to purchasing but if we make a few simple changes we can perhaps keeps the rubbish patches from destroying the world’s water supply, save a buck or two and live healthier lives.

Shades of green and blue carpet virtually all of Santander. The surrounding fields, the mountain range Picos de Europa, the dark shades of green and blue coastal waters… this colour and its overabundant presence makes the city of Santander an unforgettable tourist experience. This wonderful city located in Cantabria, Northern Spain, is a hotspot for all sorts of nature enthusiast including scuba divers.

Santander Bay is the largest estuary in Northern Spain and one of the most beautiful I’ve seen on the Iberian peninsula. It is also an exclusive member of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World Club and UNESCO recognized the bay as a cultural treasure. I recently visited the beautiful city but didn’t have the time to scuba dive, which I do regret since Santander offers quite a few options for scuba divers.

One of the most famous dive areas associated with the coastal city is Mouro Island. This natural reserve is at the entrance of the bay and is made entirely of limestone, giving it a peculiar façade and level surface perfect for a lighthouse. Beneath the water is a diver’s paradise; underwater canyons, various cracks and crevices, passageways and caves all surround Mouro Island and attract a diverse array of marine life and scuba divers.

Various types of red mullet, red scorpion fish, cuttlefish and sole fish are often spotted at the deep dive sites near

the island. Closer to the surface exist many species of wrasse, goby, squid, octopi, sea slug, red algae and nudibranch that coexist amongst the cracks and breaks in the limestone.

Many dive sites surround the island and give scuba divers heaps to choose from. Immediately south of the island is the dive spot La Cala. The sea bottom here is a mixture of sand and rocks, with a depth of up to 10 meters. This spot is perfect for beginners who wish to see schools of bream, octopi and plenty of red mullet.

Las Cuevas dive site exists on the exact opposite side of the island and poses more of a challenge since it is a cave dive. Operators

will enter the site only if ideal sea conditions exist. Divers are highly recommended to take lanterns with them on dives and must enter the site one at a time and swim through a narrow passage way some ten meters before the cave widens. Near the bottom of the cave, heaps of slipper lobsters subsist and every now and then a conger eel will pop its head out from the deep. These are two of atleat a dozen sites that exist near the island.

Santander is a beautiful city with style where scuba divers can dive in one of the world´s most beautiful bays. If anyone is interested, I recommend diving during the summer or spring months.

Here are a few dive operators for anyone interested in visiting Santander.

Mourodivers: +34 689 03 52 42

Centro de buceo pedreña: +34 657 965 839

Muck diving doesn’t sound sexy but it holds much appeal for UW macro photographers and for divers who love to admire small, usually sea bottom fairing inhabitants. This type of diving gets its name from the sediment that usually surrounds divers during the excursions. Muck can also consist of coral skeletons, old fishing equipment and other man-made junk. Poor visibility is associated with these dives, since so much junk is floating about in the water. People go muck diving for the muck. The mixture of mineral rich resources provides the perfect environment for many unusual, exotic organisms that make the muck a wonderful home.

Muck diving is a type of macro diving. In other words, people dive with the sole intention of observing petite sea species such as pygmy seahorses, nudibranch and anglerfish. Muck diving simply means you are macro diving in mucky environments, such as a river beds or shallow, silty inlets. Muck diving came about in the 1980´s when a group of divers decided to hop into a shallow inlet in Papua New Guinea just for the heck of it. Instead of seeing a whole lot of nothing, they observed an abundant amount of petite aquatic sea life, all of which stood out against the dark silty sea bottom.

Suitable conditions for muck diving involve black sand or grey silt sea bottom sites with a fresh water source close by. River mouth dive sites or areas with volcanic activity have potential for being great muck dive sites; since mineral rich runoff and volcanic lava provide the perfect resources for coral polyps and coral reef formation. This type of diving breaks away from the iconic diving the world has come to known. You will not see big, beautiful coral reefs or swarms of fish at these sites. Instead, you’ll become an underwater Sherlock Holmes that investigates every square centimetre of a dirty seafloor, nose practically touching the bottom, where visibility becomes irrelevant.

After coming to terms with the reality of muck driving, divers will probably end up with stinky mud covered wetsuits after a dive or two, deciding where to go is the next step. Lembeh Straits is known as the premiere muck diving destination. This protected stretch of water has an immense amount of small rare creatures. Lots of sites with sandy black sand slopes exist in the area and they often have a visibility between 10 and 15 meters. Spotting the wild life is a cinch since the black sand highlights them easily and also reduces back-glare.

Frogfish, octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, Ambon scorpionfish, fingered

dragonets, flying gurnards and many more different types of species have been found in great abundance here.

Here are a few operators that offer scuba trips in the Lembeh Strait

Two Fish Divers: +62 812 4444 057

Nad-lembeh: +62 81 340262850

Of all the different types of photos a scuba diver can take, the over/under has to be one of the more sought after techniques since it has a unique composition. Of course, it is not a simply feat to overcome. The over/under or split technique occurs when a photo is composed of one side showing the above water view and simultaneously the sea beneath the waves. In order to snap this shot, you must have a wide angle lens as it is impossible to do so with a macro; with a little bit of practice, it’s possible to create a nice looking over/under even if you don’t have the best equipment.

When diving with the specific purpose of capturing a split shot, make sure you dive in calm weather conditions. The smoother the surface, the easier it will be for you to split focus. A calm surface allows divers to take slightly angled shots above or below the surface and to play with the depth of field and reflection effects with minimal difficulty. Shots taken in water with a surface as smooth as a mirror also minimize the amount of water droplets that form on the camera casing. It would be a pity to snap an awesome picture and ruin it by including a couple of distracting water drops. Treating your lens with an antifogging product could decrease the amount of water droplets that appear on the lens. Beginners should also shoot at midday since optimal lighting conditions occur at this time. Also, shooting at midday creates less of a magnifying effect since the light waves strike the water at right angles during this time of day.

The odds of taking a perfect split will increase immensely if you are in a shallow dive site where you can stand up on the bottom of the ocean floor and see the surface. With both feet anchored to the ground, you’ll have better balance enabling you to manoeuvre the case easily; the images will gain more detail and sharpness as long as the top part of the case does not become coated with water droplets. Experts prefer glass cases over Plexiglas since it

minimizes annoying water droplets.

The “bottom” part of the photo will always receive less light than the top part. You can use a split dioptre filter in order to balance the light between topside and underwater view. If you do not have the money to fix this issue then using external flash underneath water could help correct the underexposed part of the photo.

Unless you are willing to invest thousands of euros in expensive underwater equipment, it will be very challenging to obtain a truly perfect split shot. The most common problem divers have with this shot is that one side will inevitably be blurry and for most amateurs that’s ok. Just make sure that

your subject, whether it is a fellow diver, reef or seagull remains in focus.

Any qualified UW photographer will confirm it: Photographing scuba divers in underwater environments gives photographs a relatable human element in a completely foreign environment. The audience, regardless whether he or she is a diver or not, can easily imagine themselves in the scenery with the diver. This is why photographing human elements beneath the waves is a popular thing to do. Besides, who doesn’t want underwater memories of a great scuba diving trip?

In order to create OK photos with human subjects, UW photographers first of all have to have permission of the subject and the subject must feel comfortable being photographed. I have yet to have a friend turn down being the model of an UW photo, especially since it really isn’t that taxing on the individuals. Perhaps, it’s a bit distracting at most, but this is where turn taking between dive buddies is useful. The best subjects are the ones that understand what the photographer is looking for. That being said, underwater photography, especially when it comes to photographing other divers, is anything but an easy task.

Here are a couple of helpful tips to help you get the most out of photographing human subjects underwater. I’m really insistent with planning, but the more preliminary work you do, the better your chances are of really snapping some great shots. If you are diving for a few weeks and have a couple of dives already lined up, find a partner who is willing to buddy up and be your partner. Do this before you get on the boat as the last thing you want to do is put your foot in your mouth or oblige someone to be your model. It’s best also to follow your buddy as constantly requiring them to pose will wear out your subject as well as yourself.

Let your dive buddy become familiar with your gear. This does require a decent amount of trust, so only lend your gear to dive

buddies you trust. This way, the model knows how the camera works, what all can be framed, how long it takes, etc. Besides, if you let the subject discover the camera by themselves, he or she will understand what type of image the equipment is capable of creating and what it is you are looking for. Explain to your subject what type of image you want to capture. Discuss common angles you use when photographing, necessary distance, light direction, etc. Also, it´s important to set up a form of communicating photography commands. Working with a buddy is teamwork.

This entry has been a bit vague but I’ve come up with most of it based on personal experience and from what my friends have told me (I’m no expert). I have done some research and have found some crystal clear pointers that should really help give you guidance:

1. Get very close (30 cm or closer) to your subject if taking macro shots. There is no such thing as halitosis underwater, sodon’t worry about getting up close and personal with your subject.
2. Underwater conditions tend to have poor lighting. The more flash the better… however backscatter could occur…
3. If you are using a camera with manual settings, start off by setting the camera with highest resolution and the lowest ISO to begin with.
4. For great composition, get low, upward angled shots that don’t centre the subject and never shoot down at a subject.